Yarn feeding mechanism for straight knitting machines



Jan. 10, 1939. R. ANKE I 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNiTTlNG MACHINES Filed June 7, 1954 v IOShets-Sheet. J

IN V EN TOR.

R v i w a BY I 9 g I 1/ a ATTORNf? Jan. 10, 1939. R ANKE 2,143,341

' YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1954 1o Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fluologah wizdye BY I ATTORNE Jan, 10, 1939.. R. ANKE 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed Juhe 7, 19:54 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR:

Jan. W, 193%. R A 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June '7; 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 &

INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Jan. 10, 1939. I R N E 3,3

I YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1964 l0-SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR:

Jan. 10, 1939. R. ANKE 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 7, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fifi--15.- Z;- 99 Fitz--15- I N V EN TOR.

ATTOR Y.

Jan. 10, 1939. R ANKE 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June '7, 1964 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR.

fludojph/mhs,

' A TTORN Jan. 10, 1939. R, ANKE 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES- Filed June 7; 1964 10 Sheets-She'h s glwg b nge,

. Jan; 10, 1939. I R ANKE 2,143,341

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 7, 19354 10-Sheets-Sheet 9 IN VEN TOR:

BY f

Jan. 10, 1939. R ANKE 2,143,341'

YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Filed. June 7,1954 10 Shets-Shget 10 A a t INVENTOR:

5 gmg zf mga ATTM Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE YARN FEEDING MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,396

16 Claims.

gauge or evenness of which may depart from normal for a sufficient length to lay several courses side-by-side. By knitting from three threads, a betteraverage texture is obtained.

15 The prior attachments for controlling a knitting machine to knit such fabric in sequential courses from several cones, or to knit other fabrics by any desired number and sequence of operation of carriers and number of cones, have 20 presented considerable difficulty of construction and operation, and so far as I am aware have all been controlled from a moving element or drive shaft located relatively a substantial distance from the attachment. This feature entails con- 21) siderable expense and weight, adds a substantial number of parts, allows greater chance for back lash, is more costly to manufacture and assemble, occupies greater space on the machine and in storing and shipping, may not be so readily re- 30 placed or repaired, and has other disadvantages.

It is therefore, among the objects of my invention to provide a compact, self-contained unit or units, for controlling a knitting machine for the above-mentioned and other purposes, that shall require no mechanical connection to a distant source of movement or drive, as by links, levers and a cam follower to the drive shaft of the knitting machine, or to any other moving part or parts of the machine, but in which the controlling 40 eiTect imposed by the unit on the machine shall be initiated without such mechanical connection and is preferably derived from, and reacts upon, the immediately adjacent machine parts to be controlled. In other words, the unit which controls the machine parts derives its action from the parts to be controlled and redirects and returns this action to the parts in a mutual exchange or interchange of interacting control effects. Strict- 50 1y considered, the invention may not reside, at

least, not in all of its forms, exclusively in the aforementioned unit, but may also be considered as depending upon slight modification of, or additions to, the parts to be controlled, to provide 65 more efiective coaction of the parts with the unit,

as will be understood from the following general outline of the invention:

In a preferred embodiment in a fiat knitting machine, such as for knitting full-fashioned stockings, three of the seven or eight yarn-car- 5 rier rods usually provided in such a machine, are eachprovided on the top edge with elements in the nature of cam stops above the top edge.

The unit proper of the invention, of which there may be one or two, depending upon the location of the cam stops on the rods, comprises, in a preferred. form employing two units, a simple bracket mounted on the usual traveling nut or carriage of the narrowing mechanism, on which bracket are mounted three detent levers, one for each of the above-mentioned cam stops, pivoted about a common axis transverse to the carrier rods. The detent ends of the levers are disposed in slightly-spaced series relation along the carrier rods, each detent lever having a transverse shoulder or detent for longitudinally holding its corresponding cam stop and carrier rod against return movement after it has moved toward that endof the machine. Each. detent also extends laterally across the tops of at least the two other carrier rods, and preferably across all of them whereby the rods may be selected for ,cooperation in any number and combination, and

is so shaped that, as one rod reciprocates into or under the unit, it simultaneously releases another rod and is itself latched against return movement. This action is reciprocal and interchangeable between the three selected carrier rods such that they move relative to like units at each end of the machine and are held and released in succession to lay the yarn courses in the proper order.

The units may be disposed or arranged in any desirable or suitable place along the yarn carrier rods to coact therewith, as, for example, intermediate the ends of the rods, and may be combined as a single unit per machine. However, as shown, they are operated as two units, one near each end of the machine, and in combination with a yarn carrier selector mechanism near the center of themachine, which successively releases the friction box from the rods as they are held by the units, and reestablishes the friction connection of the box to each rod as it is released.

Another object of the invention is to so operate the unit or units in combination with a yarn carrier selector of such character, or its equivalent, as to provide maximum efficiency, not only of the unit but of the machine, when operating with the unit, and to ensure the corresponding benefit to the fabric.

The unit and the yarn carrier selector are further provided with means for rendering them, at will, inoperative for the multiple-thread knitting operation of the kind herein intended, and toadjust the machine for usual knitting operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide the attachment in such form and construction, as to require substantially minimum change in an existent machine for mounting the attachment thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above-indicated character that shall be simple and durable in construction, economi'cal to manufacture, and effective in its operation. I

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, my invention resides in the novel elements of construction, mechanism and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a full fashioned stocking knitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 2-2, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, of a mechanism for selectively connecting the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box;

Fig; 4 is a view, in front elevation, taken in the direction of an arrow A of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of certain cam members shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view, taken substantially along the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of, and at right angles to, the structure of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view, taken substantially along the line 88 of Fig. 1, illustrating means for preventing drift of the selector shaft;

Fig. 9 is a view taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view, illustrating, inter alia, certain of the yarn-carrier rods of the knitting machine, as set up with other parts for drawing yarns from several cones and laying them in sequence to a knitting section;

Fig. 11 is a diagram of one order or sequence in which the thread carriers are operated;

Fig. 12 is a view of the carrier-locking mechanism, taken substantially along the line l2-l2 of Fig. 1;

-Fig.- 13 is an elevation, viewed in the direction of the arrow B in Fig. 12, parts having been broken away;

Fig. 14 is a view, similar to Fig. 13, showing parts thereof in other positions;

- Fig. 15 is a view taken substantially along the line |5--l5 of Fig. 13;

Figs. 16 and 17' are views, taken substantially along the lines I6l6 and l'I-ll, respectively, of Fig. 15;

Figs. 18 to 23, inclusive, are structural diagrams, indicating portions of the carrier rods and the units of the invention in successive stages of operation;

Figs. 24 to 29, inclusive, are also diagrams, indicating in broken perspective outline the corresponding stages of the corresponding parts indicated in Figs. 18 to 23, respectively;

Fig. 30 is a view similar to Fig. 12, taken in the direction of the arrow D of Fig. 32, of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 31 is a view of the structure of Fig. 30, taken substantially along the line 3l-3l of Fig. 32;

Fig. 32 is a view, taken in the direction of the arrow C of Fig. 30; and

Fig. 33 is a detail view, taken substantially along the line 33-33 of Fig. 31.

Referring to the drawings, only the parts necessary to a full and complete understanding of the invention are therein shown, the various other parts and, mechanisms, and the manner of operation thereof, being well known in the art, and shown and described in detail in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine catalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Machine Works, Reading, Pennsylvania.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the knitting machine shown embodies eight thread carrier rods I to 8, inclusive, although other flat machines employ such rods in various number, and, so far as the present invention is concerned, it is adapted to any machine employing two or a greater number of rods.

, In a full-fashioned knitting machine, as selected for illustration, thecarrier rods I to 8, inclusive, are mounted in parallel spaced relation to each other, for independent longitudinal reciprocation, in a plurality of relatively spaced carrier-rod brackets I0 that are secured to a center bed beam H, see Fig. 2, which is secured to the main center and end frames 12.

The invention, by way of illustration only, but in a preferred form, involves only three of the thread carrier rods, which, in this instance, have been selected as rods 2, 3 and 5, but which may be members of any other kind or combination thereof.

The rods 2, 3 and 5, Figs. 1, 4 and 10, are provided with thread guides 2a, 3a and 5a, respectively, that receive, and control, individual knitting threads X, Y and Z which are drawn by the guides from separate yarn comes X, Y and Z,

. through usual tensioning and moistening devices,

indicated in Fig. 10. These guides lay the respective threads to needles of one and the same group I5 of each knitting section in predetermined order, as indicated in Fig. 11, each for knitting, in the instant case, only a single course of loops at any one time.

The selection of the carrier rods is effected automatically, and, as a matter of illustration, the threads, in the present case, are fed to the needles in the order X Y Z which is repeated in corresponding cycles throughout the knitting of selected courses of the fabric, each thread making only a single course, in its turn, in each cycle.

Above the yarn carrier bars, at substantially the longitudinal center thereof, a carrier rod selector mechanism is provided. This mechanism constitutes, in one aspect of the invention, an element thereof, in combination with other elements, but not being per se a part of the invention, the mechanism being claimed in a copendingapplication of Gustav Gastrich, Serial No. 677,443, filed June 24, 1933, for Yarn feeding mechanism for straight knitting machines, which application is assigned to the Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., assignee of the present application. As parts of this mechanism, the carrier rods 2, 3 and 5 are provided with actuating dogs 2b, 3b and 5b, respectively, by which they are selectively and automatically operatively connected to a friction box I4 reciprocated by a friction rod I3. The box I4, although of special construction for cooperation with the dogs 2b, 3b and 5b, as herein appears, is also adapted for operation as a usual friction box in a series of usual boxes (not shown) for manual connection to, and release from, one of the carrier rods. Each of the dogs 2b, 3b and 5b comprises a pair of lugs l6, Fig. 4, spaced longitudinally of the rod to form a recess therebetween forthe reception of one or the other of a pair of selector members or fingers I8 and I9, Fig. 3, which are formed on, and project from, the lower end of a plunger head 20 that is slidably mounted in the lower end of a rod-selecting rocker element 22. The head is provided with a stem 2|, which is slidably mounted in the selector or rocker 22. The head 20, and the fingers I8 and I9, are adapted for sliding movement in the selector 22, relative to the carrier rods 2, 3 and 5, for effecting engagement and disengagement of the fingers, being maintained in the desired position by means of a spring-pressed detent 23, which is carried by the selector 22 and adapted to enter notches 24 and 25, in the stem 2|, in spaced relation to each other-longitudinally of the stem.

The selector rocker 22 is mounted for pivotal movement on, and relative to, the friction box I4, on a short shaft 26 which is secured in the selector by a set screw 21, with the ends of the shaft extending in opposite directions from the opposite sides of the selector, and pivotally mounted in bearings 28 on arms29 which are integral with, and extend laterally from, one side of the friction box I4.

The arms 29 are also provided with a second pair of bearings 30, which embrace, and are adapted to be moved along, a selector shaft 3|. The shaft 3| extends parallel to the friction rod I3, and to the carrier rods I to 8.

The shaft 3| is rotatably journalled in bearings 32. Figs. 8 and 9, on adjustable brackets 33, each of whichis pivotally mounted on a bushing 34 that is carried in, and extends laterally from, a bearing 35 on the end of a bracket 36 fixed to the machine frame. The bushings 34, in addition to providing pivoted mounting means for the adjusting brackets 33, provide slidable bearing means for the friction box rod I3.

Each adjustable bracket 33, Fig. 8, is providcd with a pair of arms 3'! and 3B, in the outer ends of which are threaded adjusting screws 39 and 40, respectively. The screw 39 bears against the upper surface of the rigid bracket 36, and the screw 40 bears against the underside of a friction box guide rod I3a, which is secured in, and extends between, the rigid brackets 36, parallel to the friction box rod l3, whereby the brackets 33 may be adjusted about the axis of the rod I3 for aligning the selector shaft 3| axially with the bearings 30 carried by the friction box |4.

Adjacent to the bearings 30, Fig. 4, selector cams 4| and 42, see also Fig. 5, are severally provided with sleeve-like hubs 43, which are splined to the shaft 3| and rotatably mounted in the adjacent bearings 33. Each sleeve 43 extends beyond the opposite side of the bearing, at which its particular cam is located, and is provided with a collar 44 secured thereto adjacent to its outer end, to prevent axial movement between the bearing and the cam, whereby, under longitudinal reciprocation of the friction box I4, the cams will accordingly be reciprocated, relative to the selector shaft 3|, during each reciprocation of the friction box I4, as it effects longitudinal 52 until the handle 68 of movement of one of the carrier rods 2, 3 or 5, through, the selector 22 and fingers I8 and I9, to lay the thread controlled by the guide thereon to the needles I 5 for the formation of a single course of loops.

At the end of each needle-traversing stroke of reciprocatory movement of the friction box I4, the selector shaft 3| is rotated through an angle of whereby the carrier rod previously moved by the friction box is released therefrom, and whereby an operative connection is established between the friction box and another thread bar, depending upon the position to which the selector 22, on the friction box I4, is moved by the abovementioned partial rotation of the shaft 3|.

The intermittent 60 turns, of the selector shaft 3|, cause the cams 4| and 42 to rock the selector 22 about its pivot, to release the connecting finger I8 or I3, as the case may be, from the next preceding operative carrier rod, and to engage one of said fingers to the dog of the subsequent carrier rod next in turn for actuation.

The selective rocking of the selector 22, by the cams 4| and 42, is effected through rollers Ma and 42a, which are, respectively, engaged by the cams 4| and 42, the rollers Ma and 42a being rotatably mounted in angularly spaced relation to each other, and to the axis of the pivot. shaft 26 of the selector 22.

The intermittent 60 turns of the selector shaft 3| are effected by mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 2. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the selector shaft3| has, secured A pawl carrier 5| is pivotally mounted on the shaft 3|, adjacent to the ratchet wheel 50. A pawl 53 is pivotally mounted, on a pin 52 in the pawl carrier 5|. The pawl 53 is normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 50, by a spring 54 having one end secured to the pawl and its opposite end secured to the pawl carrier 5|.

A link 56 is pivotally mounted, at one end, on a pin 55, -in the pawl carrier 5|, and, at the opposite end, Fig. 2. is pivotally connected, by'a pin 51, to one arm 58 of a lever 59. The lever 59 is pivotally mounted on a pin 60, in a bracket 6|. that is secured to one of the main longi udinal beams 62 of the machine. The second arm 63, of the lever 59, is provided with a cam follower roller 64, for engagement with the periphery of a cam 65 that is secured to the main cam shaft 66 of the machine.

The shaft 66 is adapted to be shogged axially, to eifect operation of the pointactuating mecha nism in usual and well known manner, during which time the thread carrier rods remain idle.

To prevent disruption of the predetermined order in which the thread carriers are to be operated, shogging of the shaft 66 moves the cam 65 from under the roller 64, and moves a substantially circular disc 61 into alignment with the roller, whereby rotation of the shaft 66, while effecing the above-mentioned narrowing of the fabric. does not effect rotation of the selector shaft 3|.

The pawl 53 is provided with a handle 68. by which, at such times as it may be desirable to knt a plurality of successively interlooped courses of a single thread fed to the needles by a sngle carrier rod, the pawl may be moved out of operative relation to the ratchet wheel 50, in which case, the" pawl 53 is turned about its pivot a lug 69 on the pawl carrier 5|. During this movement of the pawl, the spring 54 moves across the center of the pivot pin 52 of the pawl, and

thereto, a ratchet wheel 50.

the pawl rests and, at its right end,

holds the handle 88 against the lug 69, to prevent engagement of the pawl with the ratchet wheel 58.

Longitudinal movement of the carrier rods I to 8, inclusive, is limited by stops I8, Fig. 1, carried by narrowing carriages or nuts II, at the ends of the machine, which are moved longitudinally inwardly of the rods, when transferring stitches, by narrowing screws 12. The screws 12 are actuated, in a usual manner, from the cam shaft 66, after the shaft is shogged axially.

The reciprocations of the friction rod I3 are uniform and greater than the maximum movement required by the friction box I4 to effect complete full needle-traversing movements of the carrier rods, as determined by the positions of the stops I8.

To prevent rebounding of the carrier rods from the stops I8 and to give the yarn carriers a predetermined le'ad with respect to the sinkers, each narrowing nut II is provided with a guide bracket I3 for a pair of rod arresting levers 14, which 00- operate with shoulders I5 of plates IS on the carrier rods, Fig. 13. As a carrier rod is moved against its stop I0, one of the levers I4 drops be hind the corresponding shoulder 15 to prevent rebound of the rod, and is raised to permit move ment of a rod in the opposite direction; this mechanism being usual in a machine of this type. Whether the machine is operating to lay consecutive threads from different cones, or is operating from a single cone, as in a usual operation, the arresting levers I4 operate in well known and customary manner.

In accordance with the invention, each of the carrier rods 2, 3 and 5, merely as representative of any selected plurality of rods, is individually held against longitudinal movement, except at such time as one of the rods is selected to lay a thread to the needles, and, for this purpose, the rod 2 is provided, as viewed from the front of the machine, at its left end, with a cam stop I82, with a cam stop IUZa; the rod 3 is provided, at ts left end, with a cam stop I83, and, at its right end, with a cam stop W311, and the rod 5 is provided with a left-end cam stop I85 and a right-end cam stop I85a. Each of these cam stops, constituting a combined detent and release element, is provided with an inclined cam surface 11 sloping longitudinally of the rod for releasing, and a notch providing a holding shoulder 89 transversely of the rod and the cam stop for cooperation with, a detent lever of the unit of the invention.

This unit, one of which is preferably disposed at each end of the machine, comprises a bracket 80, Fig. 12,, having a sleeve 8|, by which it surrounds, and slides along, a short rod or shaft 82 that is already present in a standard machine of this type parallel and adjacent to the nut 1 I. An arm 83 projecting the sleeve 8| rigidly supports, at its outer end, an open frame 85 disposed in a plane substantially parallel to, and spaced above, the plane of the carrier rod group, as indicated in Fig. 12. The longitudinal sides of this frame extend transversely of the rods, one of the sides'transversely to the rods being constituted by a pivot support or shaft 89, and the other by wall 81, cast integrally with the frame and functioning as an anchorage for springs 88. A thick steel strap 18 is bridged between, and fixed to, the frame '85 and the narrowing nut 1 I, as by screws I9, and, with the bracket arm 83, serves as a rigid base for the unit.

Detent levers 98, of bell-crank form, are pivoted on the shaft 86, each having anarm or arm branches 9I extending perpendicularly to the rods, between which branches and the anchorage wall 81 of the frame, the springs 88 are connected,

under tension. Each of the detent levers 98 is, as viewed laterally thereto in the direction of the shaft 86, of a usual substantially L-shape or profile. However, as viewed in plan, as in Fig. 15, the levers are severally of other shapes. The center bell crank has only one of the arms SI, and is biased by only one of the springs 88. Its other arm 93 is also single, extending along the rods, and has a transverse free-end head 95, rendering the arm 93of substantially T-shape in plan.

The lever, next adjacent to the center lever, has a pair of spring-mounting arms 9I at opposite sides of the center lever, and a pair of the arms 93, also at opposite sides of the center lever, which are connected by a member 20, thus rendering this lever of substantially U-shape in plan,

having its pivot connections to the shaft 89 at the free ends of its double arm 93, and a single or branch arm 9I projecting from each of these free ends.

The third, or outermost lever, is constructed similarly to the intermediate lever, except that it is larger, and has a member 50 forming the closed end of its U- haped plan. The single T- head center lever arm 93 has a. cross-head member 30 fixed thereto, similar to the members 20 and 50. Thus, the corresponding arms 93 of the levers are in group of arms nested one with another, in substantially a common plane with the inner or T- head arm at the center, an intermediate arm of U-shape embracing the T-head arm, and a larger or outer arm of U-shape embracing the intermediate arm. This construction is provided for symmetry and balance.

The transverse ends of the frame 85, parallel to the carrier rods, are provided with bearings 95 for a shaft 96 that is disposed in spaced parallel relation to, and between, the sides of the frame and extends across bell-crank levers. The shaft 98 is thus disposed in the space defined by the springs 88, the arms 9|, the arms 93 and the spring-anchorage frame side 81.

In this space, between the frame end walls, the shaft 98 has fixed thereto, a cam member 91, which is adapted to cooperate with the ends of the adjusting screws 98 in the bell-crank arms 9 I, and has a fixed operating handle 99 outside the frame 80;

By turning the handle 99 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 13, to the position indicated, the cam 91 allows free movement of the levers for cooperation with the cam stops I02, I83 and I05 on the carrier rods, but acts as a limit stop for the levers. By turning the handle 99 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 14, to the position indicated, thecam 91 holds all of the bell cranks in raised or inoperative position relative to the carrier rods. By turning the screws 98, the levers may be individually adjusted with respect to the corresponding cam stops I82, I93 and I85.

As better seen in Figs. 16 and 17, the bell-crank cross-head elements 20, 3c and So, which may be removably secured to the levers by screws I08, are in the nature of combination selectors, or combined detent and detent release arms, whereby each holds one of the carrier rods against longitudinal movement but is movable by one of the the carrier rods and the nature of an assembly or Y other rods to release the rod it holds. This action. since these selectors extend across the carrier rods closely adjacent thereto, is effected by providing each selector with a transverse detent or holding portion 2e, 32 or 5e, for its cooperating rod and a detent-releasing arm 2g, 39 or Big opposite the rod selected to release it.

In the particular combination illustrated, the

detent and arm on the member 50 are spaced apart, as are the detent and arm on the member 20, but the detent and arm portions 3e and 09* on the member 30 are side-by-side parts of a single portion depending from the under side of the member, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 17, but as shown as laterally-spaced separate depending portions in Figs. 24 to 26, inclusive, for clarity.

The corresponding selectors 2d, 3d and 5d, at

the right-hand end of the machine, as viewed from the front, are provided, respectively, with detents 2 31 and 5f, and with detent-release arms 2h, 3h and 512. By this arrangement, the carrier rods may reciprocate longitudinally back and forth between the units at the respective ends of the machine, in a given sequence, and provide their own releasing and holding force. Thus the units are substantially self-contained, or self-operative, so far as outside connection to any movable element is concerned, and the detents and detent-release cams may be rearranged to operate any desired selection of the carrier rods in any desired sequence. Although, preferably operated in combination with a selector mechanism, as shown at the center of the machine for selectively connecting and releasing the carrier rods from the friction box I4, the selfoperatedunit selector mechanism, as shown at the ends of the rods, will operate in a machine where the above-mentioned center selector is either omitted, and the rods operated by usual friction boxes, or is replaced by another mechanism for effecting the same or other results.

Although the cam stops I02 to I05a, inclusive, are of the same general construction, being suitably secured to the carrier rods, as by pins or rivets ml, by reason of the offset relation of the selector elements 2c, 30 and 50, at the left-end of the machine, and the like relation of the elements 2d, 3d, and 5d, at the right-end of the machine, and also, by reason of the sequence selected in this instance, they are of slightly different shapes and dimensions, in accordance with the relations thereof to the various detents and detent-release arms; the cam stops I03 and I03 a on the rod 3 having extensions 84, on which one of the elements 5c and 5d rests, when the rod 3 is inheld position at the corresponding end of the machine. Each of the cam stops I02 to I05a, inclusive, has a holding notch intermediate its ends providing an upright holding shoulder or face 89, against which one of the detents 2e, 3e etc., bears in the holding position of the detent; these surfaces, although positively holding or looking the rods under normal operating conditions, in the manner above stated, nevertheless are preferably arranged, as by the slope thereof relative to the direction of movement of the carrier rods, by the position thereof relative to the pivot shaft 86, by the coefllcient of friction thereof, or by the weight of the parts or the strength of the springs 88 or other factors, so as, under abnormal conditions, to release the corresponding rods under the force of the driving means, when the corresponding detent-release arm has not been raised, as where the selector mechanism at the center of the machine becomes damaged or disarranged or becomes asynchronous to select and drive a rod out of sequence.

Referring to the sequence diagrams of Figs. 18 to 23, inclusive, and of Figs. 24 to 29, inclusive, Figs. 18 and 24 indicate a step or stage temporarily existent in the sequenceof operation, in which the carrier rod 2 is being held by the selector element 20, at the left-hand unit, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 24, while the carrier rod 3 is moving toward the right, and carrier rod 5 is being held by selector element 5d at the right-hand unit.

At this stage, the rod 3 is moving to the right, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 24, between and not held by either of the end units, the rod 2 is being held at the left-hand unit by the detent 2e and the arm 2g is in position to be raised by the surface 'II of the cam stop I05 to the top of the latter. The rod 5 is being held at the right-hand unit by the detent 5 and the arm 5his in a position to be raised by the surface ll of the cam stop I03a.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 24, the detent 3c is being held in an upper unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I03 before release by an action of the surface I! of the cam stop I02 against the arm 39. At the right, the detent 2f is being held in upper or unlatched position over the position previously occupied by the cam stop I02a before release by the action of the surface 11 of the cam stop I05a against the arm 2h.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 18 and 24, the selector element 50 is in lowered position, with its arm 5g in the space vacated by the cam stop I03, and its detent 5e ready to be raised by the surface ll of the cam stop I05 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I05, when the rod 5 moves to the left from its held position at the right-hand unit. At the right-hand unit, the selector 311 is in lowered position, with its arm 3k in the space previously vacated by the cam stop I02a, and its detent 3 ready to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I03a and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I03a when the latter arrives after completing the movement indicated.

In Figs. 19 and 25, carrier rod 3 has moved into the right-hand unit, and is being held against return movement by the selector element 3d, simultaneously with release of the carrier rod 5 by the rod 3, the rod 5 being indicated as at a position occupied during its consequent lefthand reciprocation movement.

At this stage, the rod 5 having been released from its detent 5f by the action of the surface 'I'I of the cam stop I 03a against the arm 571, is moving to the left, as viewed in Figs. 19 and 25, between the end units, the rod 3 is being held at the right-hand unit by the detent 3 and the arm 3h is in po:ition to be raised by the surface 71 of the cam stop I02, The rod 2 is still being held at the left-hand unit by the detent 2e and the arm 29 is in position to be raised by surface 11 of the cam stop I05.

At the. right, as viewed in Figs. 19 and 25, the detent Si is being held in an upper unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I02 against the arm 30.

At the right, as viewed in Figs. 19 and 25, the selector element 2d is in lowered position, with its arm Zn in the space vacated by the cam stop I05a, and its detent 2 ready to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I020. and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I02a, when the rod 2 moves from its held position at the left-hand unit. At the left-hand unit, the

selector element 5c is in lowered position with its arm 59 in the space previously vacated by the cam stop I03, and its detent 5e ready to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I05 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I05 when the latter arrives after completing the movement indicated.

In Figs. 20 and 26, the carrier rod 5 has reached the left-hand unit, as viewed in these figures, to be latched by the selector element 50, and to re lease the carrier rod 2 from the the right-hand movement indicated.

At this stage, the rod 2, having been released from its detent 2e, by the action of the surface 'I'I of the cam stop I05 against the arm 2g, is moving to the right, as viewed in Figs. 20 and 26, the

. rod 5 is being held at the left-hand unit by the detent 5e and the arm 5g is in position to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I03. The rod 3 is being held at the right-hand unit by the detent 3,1 and the arm 3h is in position to be raised by surface II of the cam stop I02a.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 20 and 26, the detent 2e is being held in an upper unlatched position over the position previously occupied by the cam stop I02 before release by the action of the surface 'II 'of the cam stop I05 against the arm 2g. At the right, the detent 5f is being held in upper or unlatched position over the position previously occupied by the cam stop I05a before release by the action of the surface II of the cam stop I03a against the arm 5h.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 20 and 26, the selector 3c is in lowered position, with its arm 3g in the space vacated by the cam stop I02, and its detent 3e ready to be raised by the surface I1 of the cam stop I03 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I03, when the rod 3 returns from its locked position at the righthand unit. At the right-hand unit, the selector 26 is in lowered position, with its arm 2h in the space previously vacated by the cam stop I05a, and its detent 2f ready to be raised by the surface ll of the cam stop W211 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I02a when the latter arrives after completing the movement indicated.

In Figs. 21 and 27, the carrier rod 2 has reached the right-hand unit to be latched by the selector element 2d, and to release the rod 3 from its selector 3d, for the left-hand reciprocation movement indicated.

At this stage, the rod 3 having been released from its right-hand detent 3 as seen in Figs. 21 and 27, by the action of the surface 11 of the cam stop I02a against the arm 3h, is moving to the left, the rod 2 is being held at the righthand unit by the detent 21, and the arm 2h is in position to be raised by the surface II of the cam stop I05a. The rod 5 is being held at the left-hand unit by the detent 5e and the arm 5g is in a position to be raised by the surface II of the cam stop I03.

At the right, as viewed in Figs. 21 and 27, the detent 3f is being held in upper unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I03a before release by the action element 20 for of the surface II of the cam stop I020 against the arm 3h. At the left, the detent 2e is being held in upper or unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I02 before release by the action of the surface I1 of the cam stop I05 against the arm 29.

At the right, as viewed in Figs. 21 and 27, the selector 5d is in lowered position, with its arm 572 in the space vacated by the cam stop I03a, and its detent 5 ready to be raised by the surface 'I'I of the cam stop I05a and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I05a, when the rod 5 returns from its locked position at the lefthand unit. At the left-hand unit, the selector 3c is in lowered position, with its arm 39 in the space previously vacated by the cam stop I02, and its detent 3e ready to be raised by the surface II of the cam stop I03 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I03'when the latter arrives after completing the movement indicated.

In Figs. 22 and 28, the carrier rod 3 has reached the left-hand unit, as viewed in these figures, for latching by the selector element 30, and to release the rod 5, from its selector 50, for the righthand reciprocation movement indicated.

At this stage, the rod 5 having been released from its left-hand detent 5e by the action of the surface 11 of the cam stop I03 against the arm 59, is moving to the right, the rod 3 is being held at the left-hand unit by the detent 3e and the arm 3g is in position to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I02. The rod 2 is being held at the right-hand unit by the detent 2 and the arm 2h is in a position to be raised by the surface II of the cam stop I05a.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 22 and 28, the detent Be is being held in an upper unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I05 before release by the action of the surface 11 of the cam stop I03 against the arm 51 At the right, the detent 3f is being held in upper or unlatched position above the position previously occupied by the cam stop I03a before release by the action of the surface I! of the cam stop I02a, against the arm 3h.

At the left, as viewed in Figs. 22 and 28, the selector 2c is in lowered position, with its arm 2g in the space vacated by the cam stop I05, and its detent 2e ready to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I02 and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I02, when the rod 2 returns from its locked position at the right-hand unit. At the right-hand unit, the selector 5d is in lowered position, with its .arm 5h in the space previously vacated by the cam stop I03a, and its detent 5 ready to be raised by the surface TI of the cam stop I05a and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I05a when the latter arrives after completing the movement indicated. In Figs. 23 and 29, the carrier rod 5 has again reached the right-hand unit, as in Figs. 18 and 24, after a complete cycle of left and right travel, to be held by the selector element 5d, and to release the carrier rod 2, for left-hand movement, for positioning, as in Figs. 18, 24 and 19, 25, when it will be again released, as in Figs. 20 and 26.

At this stage, as viewed in Figs. 23 and 29, the rod 2, having been released from its right-hand detent 2; by the action of the surface 1! of the cam stop I05a against the arm 2h, is moving to the left, the rod 5 is being held at the righthand unit by the detent 5) and the arm 5h is in position to be raised by the surface 11 of the cam stop I03a. The rod 3 is being held at the lefthand unit by the detent 3e and the arm 39 is in a the cam stop M311, and to cause the arm position to be raised by the surface I! of the cam stop I02. I

At the right, as Viewed in Figs. 23 and 29, the detent 2 is being held in an upper unlatched position, over the position previously occupied by the cam stop I 02a before release by the action of surface ll of the cam stop I05a against the arm 2h. At the left, the detent 5c is being held in upper or unlatched position over the position previously occupied by the cam stop H05 before release by the action of the cam stop I03 against the arm 59/.

At the right, as viewed in Figs. 23 and 29, the selector M is in lowered position, with its arm 3h in the space vacated by the cam stop l02a, ready tobe raised by the surface TI of the cam stop I03a and dropped behind the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I03a, when the rod-3 returns from its locked position at the left-hand unit. At the left-hand unit, the selector 2c is in lower position, with its arm 29 in the space vacated by the cam stop I05, and its detent 2e ready to be raised by the surface ll of the cam stop I02 and dropped behind the shoulder 09 of the cam stop I02 when the latter arrives after the rod 2 completes the movement indicated.

As indicated more clearly in Figs. 28 and'29, the cam stop I03 is provided with a side plate I06 bridging the notch which provides the detent shoulder 89. This plate I06 permits the detent 3e of the selector 30 to drop into the notch to engage the shoulder 89 of the cam stop I03 but causes the arm Sgto slide over such notch.

The cam stop I03a is also provided with a like side plate I 06a for permitting the detent 3) to drop into the notch providing the shoulder 89 in 5h to slide over the notch, as indicated more clearly in Figs. 25 and 26.

Figs. 30 and 33, inclusive, illustrate a simplified form of the invention in which the detent-release arms of the above-described structure are omitted, and detents 22, 31' and 51', corresponding to the detents 2e, 3e and 5e, are provided with sloping holding surfaces I01 cooperating with sloping surfaces I08 of the cam stops I09 on the carrier rods i I0, whereby, the individual rods, when they are selectively connected to the friction box I4, may be pulled out of the held positions.

In the structure of Figs. 30 to 33, a narrowing nut or carriage II2. on a narrowing screw II4, has an arm I I5,'between which and a plate I I 6, secured to the nut, as by screws II1, a pivot pin I I8 extends, which is held in position by a screw H9. Usual end stops I20, for the several rods, are pivoted on the pin H8 and have handles I2I for movement about the pin from the operative position illustrated to an inoperative position 1 against a, pin I22 extending between the arm H5 and the plate I I6.

A plate-like bracket I24, held to the arm II5 by the screw H9 and by pins I25 about the pin H8, and extending along the carrier rods IIO, supports three pins I21, I29 and I29 adjacent to one end thereof. On the pin I21, are supported bell-crank levers I30 having arms I32 carrying the detents 2:, 3i and 52, and arms I33 between which and the pin I29 are connected springs I35 for biasing the levers clockwise, or toward the cam stops I09, as viewed in Fig. 32. Screws I36 se cure the detents 2i, 3i and 52', to the arms I32 and are disposed in slots I31 in the arms whereby the detents may be accurately set relative to the cam stops I09.

and release the carrier The pin I28 carries a handle I39 and a cam I40 against which bear screws I42 in the arms I 33. By adjusting the screws I42, the elevation of the detents may be varied relative to the cam stops I09. A. strap-like member I43 joins and braces ends of the pins I27, I28 and I29, and operates as a stop, against one edge of which, see Fig. 33, a lateral projection or lug I44 on the handle I 39 has two positions, as indicated in full and broken lines, respectively, for determining the limiting positions of the cam I40 about the axis of the pin I20. In the position indicated in Fig. 32, the detents are in operative position to receive, hold rods through the intermediary of the cam stops I09, and, when the handle I39 is turned to the left from the position indicated in Fig. 32 or to the right, as seen in Fig. 33, the cam M0 moves against the screws I42 to features of fewer parts and lighter weight, with attendant advantages such as economy, simplicity and ready repair.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which I obtain the above results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. Ina straight knitting machine comprising yarn carrier rods, means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and releasing them from, the reciprocating means, and slipconnection means operated by said certain carrier rods for holding the same against, and slip. releasing them for, yarn-carrying movement in accordance with the selected releases and connections, respectively, effected by said mechanism, each carrier rod, as selected by said mechanism for release by said holding means for reciprocation by said reciprocating means, depending entirely for such release upon its own direct action on the holding means to force the latter to release the rod.

2. In combination, in a knitting machine comprising carrier rods, a bracket including a base support, bearings, a pivot support and a spring anchorage, a plurality of levers of L-profile, certain of which each have one arm of the L of U- plan nested one within another about a singlebranch corresponding L-arm of a center lever, with the free ends of the U-arms and the corre sponding end of said center lever pivotally mounted on said pivot support, the other arms of the L of each U-arm lever each being double and proje'ctin from the free ends of the U at opposite sides of a single corresponding arm of the center lever, tension springs extending one from each branch of said double arms and from the corresponding center-lever arm to said anchorage, ele- 'thereby move the bell-crank levers and the demembers biased toward the rods having portions for locking certain of the rods and portions for actuation by other of the rods for unlocking said lockportions, and elements on the rods for cooperation with said lock and release portions, one of. said elements and one of said portions being adapted to pass each other while engaged under said bias each without affecting the other in its operative function.

4. In combination, in a knitting machine comprising carrier rods, a bracket including a base support, bearings, a pivot support and a spring anchorage, a plurality of levers of L-profile, certain of which each have one arm of the L of U-plan nested one within another about a singlebranch cozresponding L-arm of a center lever, with the free ends of the U-arms and the corresponding end of said center lever pivotally mounted on said pivot support, the other arms of the L of each U-arm lever projecting from the free ends of the U beside a corresponding arm of the center lever, springs extending from said other and said corresponding arms to said anchorage, elements at the closed ends of the U-levers and at the corresponding end of the center lever for cooperation with the carrier rods, and means including an operating member pivotally mounted on said bracket bearings for moving all of the levers against the action of said springs to inactive position and holding the levers in said position.

5. In a straight knitting machine, a narrowing spindle, a nut on the spindle, yarn carrier rods, and a latch mechanism for the carrier rods including a support rigidly mounted on the nut and therewith completely surrounding paths of longitudinal reciprocation of the rods, a pin on said support disposed over said paths a distance therefrom and extending transversely thereto, a plurality of bell-crank levers pivotally mounted on said pin carrying on one arm along the rods a receiving portion, latch members provided one for each bellcrank and means for rigidly detachably connecting each latch member to its corresponding said receiving portion for holding cooperation with a carrier rod, the other arm of each bell crank projecting substantially perpendicularly to the rods, a spring anchorage on the support transverse to the rods, elements provided one for, and adjustably mounted on, each of said perpendicular lever arms, tension springs connected between said perpendicular arms and said anchorage for biasing the latch members toward the carrier rods, and means including a member rotativeiy mounted on said support between said perpendicular bell-crank arms and said anchorage about an axis transverse to the iods and cooperating with said adjustably-mounted elements for holding the latch members in inactive position and releasing them for cooperation with the rods.

6. In a knitting machine, yarn carriers, a support, a spring anchorage, levers of L-profile certain of which have arms of U-pl-an nested one within another with the free ends of the U- arms pivotally mounted on said support, the other arms of each U-arm iever projecting from the free ends of the U, springs extending from said other arms to said anchorage, elements at the closed ends of the U-levers for cooperation with the yarn carriers, and means for moving the levers against the action of the springs to, and holding the levers in, inactive position.

'7. In a knitting machine, yarn carriers, a support, a spring anchorage, levers of L-profile incertain of the carrier cluding a lever having an arm of T-plan and a lever having a corresponding arm of U-plan about the T-arm pivoted at the free ends of the U and at the free end of the control leg of the T, respectively, on said support, the other arms of the U-arm lever projecting from the free ends of the U and the other arm of the T-arm lever projecting from the free end of said leg, springs extending from said other armsto said anchorage, elements at the closed ends of the U-lever and at the cross head of the T-lever for cooperation with the yarn carriers, and means for moving the levers against the action of the springs to, and holding the levers in, inactive position.

8. In a straight knitting machine, a narrowing carriage, yarn carrier elements, and a latch mechanism for the carrier elements including a support on the carriage, bell-cranks pivotally mounted on the carriage each having on one arm along the carrier elements a receiving portion, a latch member for each bell-crank and means for detachably connecting it to the corresponding receiving portion for holding cooperation with a carrier element, a spring anchorage on the support, means adjustably mounted on the other arm of each bell-crank, springs connected between said other arms and said anchorage for biasing the latch members toward the carrier elements, and means including a member turnably mounted on said support and cooperating with said adjustably-mounted means for holding the latch members in inactive position and releasing them for cooperation with the carrier elements.

9. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box means, and rod movement control means controlled by said selector mechanism for holding the rods against, and releasing them for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with the selected disconnections and connections, respectively, effected by said mechanism, to release each rod selected for reciprocation only after the completion of the stroke of the next previously reciprocated rod.

10. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box means, and holding elements responsive to operation of said mechanism independently of any selectively operated means other than the rods between said mechanism and the holding elements for holding the rods against, and releasing them for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with the selected disconnections and connections, respectively, efiected by said mechanism.

11. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting rods to, and disconnecting them from, the lriction box means, and rod movement control means responsive to operation of said mechanism and unaffected by any other rod for holding each rod against, and releasing it for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with a selected disconnection and connection, respectively, effected by said mechanism.

12. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box means, and rod movement control means deriving its operating force through said selector mechanism for holding the rods against, and releasing them for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with the selected disconnections and connections, respectively, effected by said mechanism to release each rod selected for reciprocation only after the completion of the stroke of the next previously reciprocated rod.

13. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box means, and rod movement control means controlled by said selector mechanism for holding the rods against, and releasing them for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with the selected disconnections and connections, respectively, effected by said mechanism, each release of a rod by said control means occurring after the selection by said mechanism of such rod for connection to the actuating means.

14. In combination, in a straight knitting machine, yarn carrier rods, actuating means including friction box means for reciprocating the carrier rods, mechanism for selectively connecting certain of the carrier rods to, and disconnecting them from, the friction box means, and holding elements controlled by said selector mechanism for holding the rods against, and releasing them for, yarn carrying movement in accordance with the selected disconnections and connections, respectively, effected by said mechanism, each release movement of any of said holding elements occurring substantially simultaneously with the first movement of the selected carrier rod in its operative stroke.

15. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarncarrier rods, means for reciprocating the rods, members biased toward the rods having portions for locking certain of the rods and portions for actuation by other of the rods for unlocking said lock portions. means for preventing engagement of the rods by said portions under said bias, elements on the rods for engaging said portions to effect said locking and unlocking operations including an element on one of the rods having a lock shoulder and intercepting the paths of movement of one of the locking portions and one of said unlocking portions, and means for preventing engagement between said lock shoulder and said one unlocking portion.

16. In a knitting machine, a plurality of yarncarrier rods, means for reciprocating the rods, members biased toward the rods having portions for locking certain of the rods and portions for g actuation by other of the rods for unlocking said lock portions, means for preventing engagement of the rods by said portions under said bias, elements on the rods including notches for receiving said locking portions to effect said locking operation and cam surfaces for operating said unlocking portions to effect said unlocking operations, one of said notches being in the path of movement of one of said unlocking portions, and bridging means enabling said one unlocking portion to cross said one notch.

RUDOLPH ANKE. 

